Order of the Arrow Committee

Mission and Purpose of the order of the arrow

For over 100 years, the Order of the Arrow (OA) has recognized Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. This recognition provides encouragement for others to live these ideals as well. Arrowmen are known for maintaining camping traditions and spirit, promoting year-round and long-term resident camping, and providing cheerful service to others. OA service, activities, adventures, and training for youth and adults are models of quality leadership development and programming that enrich and help to extend Scouting to America’s youth.

Mission
The mission of the Order of the Arrow is to fulfill its purpose as an integral part of the Boy Scouts of America through positive youth leadership under the guidance of selected capable adults

Purpose
As Scouting’s National Honor Society, our purpose is to:

• Recognize those who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives and through that recognition cause others to conduct themselves in a way that warrants similar recognition.
• Promote camping, responsible outdoor adventure, and environmental stewardship as essential components of every Scout’s experience, in the unit, year-round, and in summer camp.
• Develop leaders with the willingness, character, spirit and ability to advance the activities of their units, our Brotherhood, Scouting, and ultimately our nation.
• Crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others.

The order of the arrow in northern star scouting

The Order of the Arrow program is facilitated through lodges across the Boy Scouts of America's local councils.  Northern Star Scouting's program is facilitated by the Totanhan Nakaha Lodge.  One of the oldest lodges in the country, the Totanhan Nakaha Lodge can tie its founding back to 1924 as the 16th lodge in the country.  The Order of the Arrow program remains strong in Northern Star Scouting, serving over 2,000 members across all of the council's 13 geogrpahic districts. 

In addition to facilitating conclaves, camp openers, and fellowship events for members, the lodge also leads the annual Ft. Snelling National Cemetery Wreath Clean-up.  The largest single-day service project in Northern Star Scouting, the annual Wreath Clean-up routinely brings over 900 volunteers together to assist the staff at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery with collecting and disposing of close to 33 tons of holiday decorations annually.  Whether it is supporting camp operations or providing service to the community, the Totanhan Nakaha Lodge is a visible and thriving partner to the Scouting program in Northern Star.  

Online Resources

We encourage you to visit our homepage to learn more about the Totanhan Nakaha Lodge and our upcoming program and events.  Below you will find links to our homepage, trading post, and events calendar.  Additionally, check out the links to the national Order of the Arrow organization, as well as the Order of the Arrow High Adventure program that is available to youth members of the Order.  

Totanhan Nakaha Lodge Homepage

Totanhan Nakaha Lodge Trading Post

Totanhan Nakaha Lodge Calendar

National Order of the Arrow Homepage

Order of the Arrow High Adventure

Documents